What’s the Big Idea?

The club and resort market is highly fragmented and each club has its own DNA. We learned early on that idea-sharing among clubs is a common occurrence.

When we launched Club & Resort Business in 2005 (C&RB today), we debated a name for the magazine that would resonate with readers and capture in a few words what we would be all about.

The one constant in the variety of names we considered was the word “business.” This was important to us because it was eminently clear at the time that many clubs were in the beginning stages of a transformation from a somewhat laissez faire approach to business to a management philosophy more keenly focused on strategic planning and measured results.

A market suddenly faced with oversupply and the onset of diminishing demand will do that for you.

While the final name for the magazine was up for discussion, the C&RB editorial philosophy was never in doubt. Our content would focus on ideas clubs could implement to run a better business—ideas to help drive revenues, control costs, and enhance member/guest satisfaction.

The club and resort market is highly fragmented and each club has its own DNA. As such, rarely do clubs in the same city, let alone down the street, compete for members. We learned early on that idea-sharing among clubs is a common occurrence. Of course, some ideas are better than others, and successful ideas are the best of all, which is how I expect we came to the old expression that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

C&RB reader research confirms that 92% of you read three out of four issues on a regular basis. That’s about as good as it gets in terms of reader affinity for a business-to-business magazine, and we are grateful to know that you not only enjoy the magazine, but have come to rely on it.

The entire content in this issue is based on ideas that have been successfully implemented by clubs from all around the country. There were 50 fresh ideas in June’s issue, spread among nine major categories: Special Events; Design & Renovation; Food & Beverage; Course & Grounds; Golf Operations; Family & Kids; Recreation & Fitness; Management & Operations; and Membership.

Most of you are in the middle of a very busy summer season, so the June issue may be that one in four you missed reading. If so, hunt it down and set it aside for when you can spend some time with it. Who can’t use some new, good ideas?

And as regular readers know, you won’t have to wait until next June to get another batch of winning ideas—we also feature them on the back page of every other issue of C&RB. If you have a great idea that’s worked successfully for your club and would like to share it, please let us know—we always have a place for it.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“It takes a lot of balls to golf like I do.”
—Anonymous